PESHWAR: The Federal Investigation Agency’s cybercrime wing has arrested an Afghan national for harassing and blackmailing a woman and her family.

A statement issued here on Friday identified the accused as Farid, who is currently living in Sarai Naurang area of Lakki Marwat. He was arrested following a complaint lodged by Kamran Khan, a brother of the woman.

The complainant told the FIA that the accused, posing himself as an intelligence operative, sent him threatening messages and calls on WhatsApp and harassed and blackmailed his sister as well.

He said the accused befriended his sister on Facebook, posing as sleuth; however, after sometime he introduced himself as Farid, a resident of Sarai Naurang, and a subedar major in the army.

He said the accused recorded a video of her sister, and later started demanded of their family that he wanted to marry her. He threatened that he would upload her videos and pictures on social media if she was not married to him.

He said the accused even demanded of his sister to sell all the gold of her family.

The statement said during inquiry, FIA traced Farid to Sarai Naurang, and the cybercrime circle in-charge Faisal Tariq arrested the accused during a raid.

It said two mobile phones were seized from him along with the SIM numbers used in the offence.

During initial interrogation, the accused admitted to his guilt.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2021